Nuit Blanche 2015 is almost here, and we’re so excited! This is the tenth year Toronto will be participating in the festivities, and there’s lots to see! You can check out the whole lineup over on their official site, but we’ve cherrypicked a few of the most promising options for you right here!
1. Shoes That Line The Lane
Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor St. West
You’ve probably noticed pairs of shoes strewn over powerlines hanging around the city for years, but have you ever wondered where they came from? The artist, Cy Williams, has been a hanger of shoes for years, and his Nuit Blanche project explores the personal ritual of shoe-throwing, and the people behind the pairs. The best part? Bring your own shoes to add to the installation! Especially welcome if they’re tied to an important person or memory, you can affix a message to your pair or hang them anonymously – just as long as they have laces!
2. Bone Runners
Gardiner Museum, 111 Queens Park
The Harbourfront Centre’s Artist-in-residence, Nurielle Stern, is creating an amazing winter wonderland inspired by the discovery of prehistoric ice-skates. This bizarre and dreamlike installation will be full of porcelain and paper pieces. Plus, you can take home one of 3000 artifacts and arrowheads as a Nuit Blanche souvenir.
3. Light Cave
Drake 150, 150 York Street
This delightful piece from collective FriendsWithYou (you might remember them from Pharrell’s 2014 This Is Not A Toy show at the Design Exchange) creates a beautiful space to explore and inspire. Aiming to create a trancendent experience that unifies us all, Light Cave is sure to be one of the most popular installations around, so make sure you check it out! We’re betting it’ll be one of the most Instagrammed, too.
4. RaveTapes
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. West
If you have nostalgic feelings for Toronto’s 90s rave culture (or you missed it altogether!), check out this retrospective at the Garrison. Half installation, half immersive experience, get ready to dance and assist in creating the evening’s soundtrack. While some Nuit Blanche pieces are just beautiful to look at, this piece will really allow you to get your hands dirty. Plus, there will be glowsticks. You can’t go wrong!
5. Black and White Night
City Hall, 100 Queen St West
Internationally renowned artist JR is bringing his biggest art project here to Toronto. Starting September 28, stop by Nathan Phillips Square and have your photo taken to be part of the exhibition. You’ll have your face placed in front of city hall, laying claim to a public and political space and cementing that our city is, in fact, ours. More than 250,000 people have participated in this project worldwide, so we’re so excited to see how the Toronto chapter will shape up. Check it out after Nuit Blanche, too – it’ll be up until October 12.
What are you planning to see during Nuit Blanche? Do you have a favourite project from the last 10 years of this festival? Tell us on Twitter!
Want to learn more about our projects? Contact us!